Improvement in self-tightening bands for hay-forks



Y"UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Il. MELIGK, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT lN SELF-TIGHTENING BANDS FIOR HAY-FORKIS.

Specilication forming part of'Lettei-s Patent No. 110,701, dated November 2 l, 1863.

lb all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known lthat I, JAMES H. MELICK, of the city and county of AlbanyState 'ot' New York, have invented a new and useful Self 'Iightening Band for the Tines of Hay-Forks, Snc.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear7 and exact description thereot', reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figurelisa perspective view of my improved band, having the tooth ot' a pitchfork applied to it. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through a fork-head, showing the improved band applied to the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a fork-head, showinga section through the band. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pitchfork having my invention applied to it.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a new and useful device to be applied to the wooden heads ot' pitchforks and other similar implements for the purpose of keeping the tines rigidly fixed in their. places in the fork-head, and at the same time preventing the strain put upon the tines'from splitting the head, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

My invention consists in a metallic band', a, which is madeof-stout strap metal. rIhis band, when cutof a properlength, has an oblong hole, b, punched in each end, and another hole, c, punched through it at the middle of its length. "Ihe length ot' this band a should be such as to pass around the fork-head and to allow the slotted ends to lap a short distance,

as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the taper ing or wedged end of the shank d of the fork will pass through both ends of the band a, through a holewhich is made through the forkhead, and also through the middle hole, c, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, receiving on the end which has a male screw, e, out on it a nutg, which, on being forced up tightly, will dra-W the wedged shank tightly in its place, and at the same time draw theband t very tight around the head A.

lIn order to cause the shank of the fork to draw the ends ot' the band. together when the shank is forced in its place, the slots b b should be cut so that the narrow edges of the shank will commence -to press outward on the ends of the band abet'ore theshank has been drawn l home, and the slots being made longer than the width ot' the shank the shank will only press on one edge of each slot as itA is forced home, thus drawing the band vtightly around the fork-head. By applying a thick metal band to the fork-shank in this way it will be seen that the wood is strengthened around the shank at thev point where it would be most likely' to split; also that the fork-shank has a metal bearing on each side ofthe head A,which holds the fork permanently and rigidly in position within the head.

Although I have represented, in Fig. 4 my invention applied to the head ot' a common hay-elevating fork, I do not desire to be understood as conningits use to this or any other hay-fork exclusively, as it will befound useful in a varietygot' implements where it is desirableto secure teeth to a wooden head.

In using the fork for lifting heavy loads the' teeth outside of the head A will spring back more or less in proportion to the weight put upon them. This slight spring movement ot' the teeth outside ofthe head will be resisted by that end oi" the band a which is on the opposite edgeof a tooth to the edge upon which the weight is sustained, and the band will, as a consequence, be drawn more tightly on one side of the head in proportion to the weight to be sustained. The oblong slots b b through the ends ofthe band a, through which the tines pass, being made longer than the width of those portions ot' the tines outside of uthe head, the resile movement of these tines will only press upon and be resisted or received by one of the ends of the bands, according to whichever side ot' the tines the load is sustained or received on.

I am aware that the tines will retract very little, especially if they are made thick at and near their Shanks; but however little this movement may be the band will be drawn more tightly about thehead, and thus prevent the tines from becoming loose and rickety and losing their metal support in consequence ot' the shrinking of the wooden head A, and also resist any tendency of the rake-head to split by reason of such pressure upon the tines.

Having thus described myinvention', what I will act as a key to tighten the band upon the claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. So applying a band, a, to a rake-head, fork-head, ror other like article that the strain upon the tines of the fork `in the aet of use shall tighten the band thereon in proportion to the strain applied upon the tines, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. The slotted band a, so constructed and applied to a wooden or other head that the tine proportion, substantially as set forth.

3. Sustaining the strain upon Wooden heads or stocks of agricultural implements by means substantially as described.

Witnesses:

E. S. BEDELL, HoMER CRANDELL.

head, and therebytighteuthe tine in the same JAMES H. MELioK. 

